Why's Everybody Always Pickin' On Me?

Those lyrics came from a song sung by the Coasters called Charlie Brown, but if you are LGBTQ+ sometimes you feel like everyone is “pickin” on you.

Gay couple ‘ordered to take down LGBT Pride flag’
Pink News UK
By Ella Braidwood
1st April 2019

A gay couple from Wisconsin have reportedly claimed they were asked to take down their LGBT+ Pride flag by their landlord.

Kevin Kollman has lived with his boyfriend in Country Oaks Apartments in Oak Creek for six years, reports NBC affiliate WBBH.

However, on Wednesday (March 27) the couple said they received a letter from the property owner ordering them to take down the LGBT+ Pride flag within five days.

The flag outside the couple’s apartment features rainbow stripes and the stars from the US national flag.

“This is who I am, this is who we are,” Kollman told WBBH.

“Personally, I feel like we’re being kind of singled out here because it’s what it is.”
[…]
The landlord also claimed that no tenants at the apartment block are allowed to put up flags.

However, in WBBH’s video of the news report, flags can be seen outside other flats at the property

I know other people who have been told to take down their rainbow flags (I think the trans flag is not that well known so a lot of trans people get away with flying the trans flag).

But since then with all the publicity the condo complex had a change of heart.

"Your flag may remain:" Oak Creek couple's gay pride flag now allowed, eviction rescinded
WDJT CBS 59
By: Lindsey Branwall
April 1, 2019
[…]
The letter from Bieck Management Inc. reads:

Dear Kevin and Merle,

Firstly, the 5-day notice issued to you last week on March 25th has been rescinded. No further action will be taken regarding your flag. Your flag may remain...

We will be discussing a new Country Oaks flag policy going forward that allows flags to be flwon that meet certain guidelines such as size, placement, location, etc. I would appreciate your input into this new policy, so perhaps we could meet sometime in the near future to discuss. No matter the final policy, we will make every effort to grandfather your present flag in its current location.

Finally thank you for you past, present, and future occupancy at Country Oaks. We will continue to strive to keep Country Oaks a preferred home for everyone.

"I don't think he backed down, I think he saw... that we all belong here," said Kollman.

Sometimes being in the spotlight does bring about change, news coverage and social media can force the bigots back in to the swamp.

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When you transition there is no “dressing up” or a day “out with the girls” every day is just another day whether it is a day at the theater and a diner or going to the car dealer to have your car serviced… it is just “Another Day”

Yesterday was just another day… I taught a class at noon and ended up the day sitting in a radio studio being interviewed.